Strange Freak Of Nature.
p. 18 · Read in the full issue
THE seven coconut trees shown in this photograph are growing in front of the Government Offices at Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. They are said to have grown from a single coconut with seven sprouts, found on one of the outlying islands of the Cook Group and sent as a present to the Administrator at Rarotonga.
Having seen many thousands of coco nuts, none of which produced more than one sprout, I could not believe that seven trees could grow from one coconut. How ever, on discussing the matter with the late Dr. Gerrit P. Wilder, of the botani cal staff of the Bishop Museum (Hono lulu) who had seen the seven trees at Avarua and examined them, he said that he was prepared to accept the statement that they had grown from one nut, as he had seen one coconut with four sprouts and several with two or three sprouts.